Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board denied reopening and service connection claims for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to address the etiology of her musculoskeletal pain, cervical spine disability, respiratory conditions, sleep disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The issues are currently on appeal.

Service connection is granted for chloracne due to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection is denied for umbilical hernia and abdominal pain.,Service connection is denied for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, ruptured lung status post staple correction with hemoptysis, heart disability (claimed as heart palpitations), facial skin cancer, colonic polyps, and hypertension.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, headaches, fibromyalgia, and neuropsychological symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, asthma, and colorectal cancer (previously claimed as colon cancer), but these claims are remanded due to outstanding medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sinusitis, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for a left hip disability, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain status post fracture are all remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for mixed type headaches prior to April 8, 2019 is denied as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection for sinusitis is granted, and a 10 percent rating is assigned.,A 10 percent rating is granted for left eye corneal scarring. The condition does not cause visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has decided to remand several issues for further development, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The Veteran's representative also mentioned the need for additional development regarding non-service connected pension.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,Chronic sinusitis has been characterized by chronic congestion with tenderness over the frontal sinus and occasional sinus headaches. The Veteran had no incapacitating or non-incapacitating episodes in the past 12 months.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective January 21, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right leg injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident in service have been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's chronic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent due to greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition and remanded the issues of service connection for knee, gastritis, sinusitis, and pulmonary condition (to include asthma).

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for sinusitis from October 22, 2007, is denied as the condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD and hiatal hernia. The decision on sinusitis remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and migraine headaches has been partially granted. The Veteran is now receiving an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's VA disability benefits were reduced due to the recoupment of her separation pay. The appeal is denied as the law requires the recouping of separation pay from VA disability compensation.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding effective dates prior to March 9, 2011 for service connection of lichen simplex chronicus, chronic sinusitis and umbilical hernia. The Veteran's request for withdrawal was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in previous decisions. New evidence was submitted and found to be material, allowing the claim for a skin disability to be reopened. The back injury residuals claim is also reopened. Service connection for sinus disabilities (chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis) is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, anxiety and depression, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, sinusitis with rhinitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.